Starpire vs Ultra white glass/ that much difference?

[plancton]

Hi, I deciding which glass to use for my next tank project.
Diamond Starpire looks clear but a slightly bit greenish, but Ultra white by guardian is asbolutely transparent.

Ultra white is almos twice the price of Starpire. So there´s the problem, is it really that much difference between Starpire and Ultra white with the lights on?. Worth paying almost twice for Ultra white?

[kkdoughboy]

Absolutely! If you can afford it why the heck not!!!

[plancton]

But it seems most people are using starphire these days.

[goochesfish]

I suppose if i had 2 tanks side by side, one starfire and one not, I would be able to tell the difference. Since I do not, I would never know I paid so much more for my starfire.

[snorvich]

It is your tank. If you can afford it, pick the one that is the best for you.

[plancton]

The thing is, I guess I can afford it but it would hurt, are you happy with your Starphires?, are they transparent enough?. Or you´ve seen ultra white and its mind blowing?. I only saw the sample small glass.

[Tadashi]

If it is a custom you can have the front pane made from the ultra white and the sides from starfire, and back from normal. Are you sure it is starfire? My starfire did not have any greenish tint at all. It was 3/4" so I would have noticed even a little.

I have not seen ultra white. What is the clarity? Acrylic is suppose to be around 97%, starfire was around 92%, and regular glass was 80% when I was shopping 10 years ago. Is ultra white the same as acrylic?

[mcoomer]

According to Guardian's site 1/8" Ultra White glass has 91% light transmittance down to 89% for 1/2". Looking at a spec from PPG for Starphire you get 84% visible light transmission. The document doesn't say at what thickness but that seems to be a large difference. I say if you've got the cash go for it. You can at least put it on the front panel.

Mike

[Tadashi]

I am not sure about ultra white but starphire is softer than regular glass and prone to scratching if not careful. Although it is harder than acrylic. If the trend follows this then I would expect Ultra White to be really prone to scratches if you are not careful.

Thinking back the lighting may have something to do with how much green you see. I had 4 400-watt 14000 MH and 2 100-watt VHO actinics over a 48"x27" surface. I also ran carbon to keep the water extra clear to minimize yellowing.

My buddy had a regular glass tank and unless I looked at the edges I would not have noticed any green tint. He ran two 250-watt MH and VHOs.

[plancton]

I saw the comparisson between starphire and ultra white, Ultra white seemed as transparent as acrylic, while the starphire had a tint of green, very low and mostly noticeable on the edges.

The problem is that you can´t buy just the front pannel of ultra white, you have to buy a determined dimension of sheet. So the guy who was building my tank gave me an estimate of $1100 for the L shapped tank under starphire at visible sides only. He told me that under ultra white it would be about $1600 - $1800 Its a big monetary difference.

And by creating this post I notice nobody has even seen the ultra white, so all those great glass tanks are still starphire. And people say they look transparent enough, or do they seem a little opaque to you?. By looking at TOM all the glass tanks are starphire, I see the colors just about right and nobody seems to own a ultra white one.

[ludnix]

Starphire and ultra white are pretty amazing too look at side by side against glass, but I don't know if it would be worth it overall for you tank. Unless I was spending thousands on getting the perfect lighting for the corals it doesn't seem like the extra $500-700 would be worth it. Personally I haven't ever looked at someone's aquarium and said "It's too bad the glass is so green".

[Tadashi]

It is similiar to computers. Unless they are side by side you cannot tell the other is faster. The only thing will nag you that you should have or shouldn't have depending on the type of person you are. I am generally the first so would get it and not regret it. If budget is an issue then $500-$700 can buy a lot of equipment or livestock.

[CleveYank]

Since we're talking higher dollars. To me when you think about powerheads that cost as much as my 2nd car ($400) the jumps from 1100 to 1800 is almost like loose change in the hobby it seems. Relative to the two choices it's drastic. Taken into context within the reef hobby gadgetry and operational expenses or the grand scheme, it's not such a big deal.

The 4 questions I would ask are.
Which is clearer?
And which of the two is more scratch resistant?
If they are both as durable, is the added $700 going to make or break the look of a well maintained optimum captive example of a chunk of living reef?
Maybe there is a reason noone or the majority uses the standard glass or starphire and you do not see the ultra white?

I like the "too bad the glass is so green" comment. I've never heard that either. Growout a frag into a 8" by 14" living masterpeice and the livestock will be the major aspect that anyone will care about.

I'd go with the starphire and call it a day. Unless the ultra white is more durable and is not somehow structurally inferior.

[PrangeWay]

I'm not sure. I can easily, in person, tell if a tank is acrylic or starfire vs regular glass in one glance. You don't even need them side by side for comparsion. I mean it screams out loud, "look how clear I am!". I'd need to see ultrawhite in a room by itself to see if it screams out how much better than starfire it is... See if he has samples and check them out, its the only sure way to tell. But after owning an acrylic tank, and a starfire now, I'd never, ever by a regular glass tank again, they just look bland.


PW

[mark728]

Hi I have a 120 tech the back and sides are reg glass front is Starphire® glass, here are some pics to me hands down worth the extra money .This is the best I could do with my point and shoot camera but you get the idea.



FRONT GLASS






BACK GLASS



AS YOU CAN SEE THE WHITE PAPER HAS A CRISP WHITE LOOK TO IT THRU THE FRONT AND A GREEN WASHED OUT LOOK THRU THE SIDE

[DT's_Reef]

I much prefer Starphire to regular glass, but not certain whether the ultra white will make a big difference.

I think the extra clarity could be useful if your tank is absolutely smoking-hot-perfectly-clean with awesome corals. It could give a tiny bit more zing.

Buf if your tank and inhabitants are less than perfectly clean and healthy, then it probably doesn't matter.

Regardless, if spending the extra money bothers you at all, go with the starphire. It's fantastic.

[plancton]

So like you´re saying, I can spend those extra $500-$600 on equipment.

To me regular glass is just to green and not cool at all. Starphire seems to be the top elite and the number one choice anyways, so basically it seems all the glass TOM are starphire, and not many people have used ultra white, which of course, might be better but to new and expensive for the momment, and I can´t wait years for the prices to come down to start my new project.

In conclusion, at least go starphire, don´t go regular glass, regular glass is to green.

[Amoore311]

Just go with the Starphire. I don't think the Ultra White is worth the price.


Spend the extra $$$ on upgrades to other equipment that will make a difference, or will make your tank easier to maintain.

Or spend it on some really nice centerpiece fish/corals once the tank is set up.

[plancton]

Thanks, yeah I will spend those extra money on the tank, it is going to be an L shaped, but in reality it will be 2 tanks and a sump placed in an L shape, in order to use one part for chalices, acans, favias, lower light sps and Wrasses with acrylic cover for them not to suicide. I love wrasses but they´re suicidal. Not anymore with the new design.

And the other tank part of the L will be larger and will use HQIs and I will be keeping my current tank with really cool collection corals. I will start the project soon and will post pics. Good luck everybody!

[Elysia]

I find this topic quite interesting....

First, I wonder how many people have posted in this thread that you really need Starfire glass and yet haven't been to the eye doctor in two or more years or whose eyeglasses are either scratched or filthy right now....

Second, if you do wear glasses or contact lenses, save your money by purchasing a regular glass tank. It will stand up to stratches much better (who cares if the color is right if the glass is all scratched -- scratched glass doesn't have good clarity!) and save you some money. Then, you can use a few bucks of that money to get tinted glasses or contacts. It will color-correct your tank, but even better, colors outside will have extra depth and dimension. Others may not enjoy the benefits, but you will have spent the money on making your entire world (and not just the front glass of your tank) look better.

[plancton]

Actually starphire is supposed to be harder to scratch.

[slant77]

I heard more than one person say starphire is easier to scratch than regular glass.

[Tadashi]

That is correct. Starphire is easier to scratch than regular glass but harder than acrylic. Not sure about ultra white.

I was very careful about not getting my magnet too close my my sand. I had the Magnivore 4 so it would have sratched regular glass also.

[asonitez]

I keep seeing that a lot of the TOTM' are starfire. I don't think this is actually true. Looking at the past TOTM's they are regular glass or acrylic. Personally I can't tell the difference lol. I went into my LFS the other day and Saw a Oceanic Tech 120 and a regular AGA 120 both RR set up side by side. Both tanks were using IceCap 250w Pendants w/ 14K IceCap bulbs in em. They both looked bright and pleasing to the eye. I asked my Fiance and her sister to tell me the difference between the two tanks and neither one could determine a difference in the clarity. Personally I think it would only matter to the reefer how clear their glass is. Besides after a few months and a couple of neglected algae scrapings everyone will pickup scratches near the sand bed, your tank will never have perfect clear glass unless your religious about using your mag cleaner and they people in your family unless they are fanatic reefers will never know the difference. If your like me, then when ppl visit and are amazed at your tank I don't think any of them would say... thats pretty but the glass is too green.

[lezerf]

Originally Posted by asonitez

I keep seeing that a lot of the TOTM' are starfire. I don't think this is actually true. Looking at the past TOTM's they are regular glass or acrylic. Personally I can't tell the difference lol. I went into my LFS the other day and Saw a Oceanic Tech 120 and a regular AGA 120 both RR set up side by side. Both tanks were using IceCap 250w Pendants w/ 14K IceCap bulbs in em. They both looked bright and pleasing to the eye. I asked my Fiance and her sister to tell me the difference between the two tanks and neither one could determine a difference in the clarity. Personally I think it would only matter to the reefer how clear their glass is. Besides after a few months and a couple of neglected algae scrapings everyone will pickup scratches near the sand bed, your tank will never have perfect clear glass unless your religious about using your mag cleaner and they people in your family unless they are fanatic reefers will never know the difference. If your like me, then when ppl visit and are amazed at your tank I don't think any of them would say... that's pretty but the glass is too green.

personally when i saw 2 tanks side by side i thought the one with the starfire was missing the front pane of glass the difference was amazing, i ran across this thread because i have an AGA glass tank and my buddy has a starfire same setup and his front view blows me away every time. so figure identical tanks but different fronts, i see my tank every day (which has nicer corals lol) and his front view awesome, defiantly getting a starfire tank when i move